One of the first South Parks, by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, was an unaired short featuring a fight between Santa and Jesus Christ, which could have offended Jews, Christians, obese people and anybody who objected to profuse swearing.

The 150th episode was aired six weeks after the death of Australian crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, who is featured turning up to a party organised by Satan with a stingray through his chest. Even the devil was surprised at the joke so soon after his death – "It's too soon, you know?"

Parker and Stone met at Colorado University and their big break came when Comedy Central happened upon the Jesus vs Santa short and asked them to develop a series.

Sixteen series and 237 episodes later South Park is still going. There has been a South Park movie and the film Team America: World Police which features members of the Film Actors Guild (FAG) – Alec Baldwin and Matt Damon among others – conspiring with North Korea's Kim Jong-il, who gives a moving rendition of I'm So Ronery.

Fans of South Park would argue that the show has a genuine humanity and can be incredibly sweet. They might also concede that it can be puerile and in the most appalling taste. That may even be why they watch it.